Calling out the 8 minute miler

Okay, so someone, who I won't mention there name was talking with me at the beginning of the year about running. This person is a former Army guy, who has ran many a miles. Anyways, I was talking about my running and I mentioned that my runs are at a 10 minute mile pace, not my all out runs, just my normal training runs.

Anyways, when I mentioned my 10 minute pace, this person blurted out, HOLY CRAP that is SLOW!!! So, then this person tried back pedalling. "Well, when I was in the Army we ran 6 minute miles with 60 pound ruck sacks on our backs. Now I run at a 8 minute mile pace, so that is really slow for me." (Note: Okay, maybe they were running 6 minute mile paces in the army, but in my head, I doubt that. They run for distance, not for speed. I know guys who can't run 6:00 paces and they are damn fast) I was very doubtful of this pace. So, I challenged this person, considering they haven't been in the military for a few years, and have not ran religiously since he got out. So, I challenged this 8 minute pace. The person said they were game. I said, great, lets go run a 5k and you show me an 8 minute pace, cause I really want to see it. He then said, oh, I don't run those distances any more, but I could do it for a mile. I argued that a mile at 8 minutes is not acceptable. We agreed on two miles. Well, I have offered many times, and he has always found a reason not to go show me that 8 minute mile pace.

Well, I am calling you out, publicly. Come out for a run with me, you can take my garmin, it will record your data, show me a consistent 8 minute pace for 2 full miles.

Now, for all of you on the side lines. I did some reasearch while writing this call out, and I found some Army PT run data taken with Garmins, and they actually range from 9:17 per mile to 14:00 per mile. I found a triathlete for the Army who runs 8:00 miles, but that would be one of those seriously above and beyond PT guys. I also found references to military guys who were trying to find ways to break a 6 minute mile, and other Seargents were saying these guys were seriously going for it, so, 6 minute as a regular run pace. Uhummm!!

Running in a marsh

I had to make a business trip down to San Jose this week to install some new equipment. When I landed in San Jose, I was treated to clear blue skies, no wind and 60 degrees. This was such a refreshing break from 40's, windy and cloudy that I am used to here in Portland.

My normal hotel was all booked, and so were all the hotels in San Jose, so I ended up staying in Newark, which is about 20 miles North of San Jose. As always, I check in to my room first, to make sure I have no snafu's in where I am going to sleep that night. When I get to the hotel, I ask the clerk if there are any good running/walking trails in the area. She informed me, that there was a great place just a mile or so down the road and gave me a print out with directions. She said it was a marsh with some trails through it. I asked if there was at least enough trails to run for a couple of miles, and she said definitely. Well, I have never considered a marsh a cool place, I figured beggars can't be choosers and it was a trail without heavy traffic, so what the heck. It was such a nice day, and I really couldn't get any of my work done until after hours, I had an hour or so to burn. I changed in to my running gear, and headed out the door.

I drove to this place she had given directions to, and it was kind of what one would expect. Wetlands with water that wasn't really deep, and lots of land exposed and some ducks in the water. In the center was a pretty good sized hill that just stuck out from this pretty large flat area and I could see there were some trails around it. I turned on my GPS device to let it get a signal while I took a drink of water, hid keys, etc. This week is a recovery week for me, so I am not supposed to push it at all, just nice, short easy efforts. This can be hard for me at times, but I think I have realized how beneficial it is, so I am pretty good at sticking to it.

I get out of the rental and hit the first trail that goes off the parking lot. As I walk on the trail to get warmed up there is a big warning sign about Mountain Lions being in the area and you should try to always be with a partner. At first this concerned, then I realized, I am in California, and they are overly cautious about everything, so I continue on.

After I get down the trail a couple hundred yards, I start my run on a trail. I have no clue where it will lead me, but it was very well kept, and I could see lots of bridges through out these marsh lands. I started out, and as I cross the first foot bridge, I start noticing that there are a lot more birds here than I could tell from the road. Of course there were lots of ducks, and Canadian geese, but there were plenty of species I had never seen before. As I was running, I was much more interested in all of the different kinds of birds than I was about the trail and where it was taking me. In about 3/4 of a mile, I ended up on the road I came in on. The trail continued across the road and went right next to that hill that I mentioned earlier. I started on the shaded side of this hill where there were eucalyptus trees and shrubs, and lots of little birds just hanging out. The eucalyptus really made the air smell like something else, it was almost euphoric. I get around to the end of the hill and the trail keeps on going around it. This is cool, some more distance. As I get further around the hill, my elevation goes up slightly and I realize I am running along a bay (no, you could not see it while driving up, yes, I really wasn't paying that close of attention about where the ocean was). These marshes are filled and drained with the tides. These birds I was seeing were mostly sea birds.

I kept running, keeping an eye on all of the birds. As I would get close to them while running, they would fly away from me and land 30 yards away from me. I noticed below me there is a trail that runs right next to the bay. I will definitely hit this trail tomorrow, because I have to come back. As I round the hill, I am close to my three mile mark. The run was completely fulfilling, running in the sun is something I haven't been able to do in a long time and it was definitely good for the soul.

I was able to make time for a run the next day as well, where I ran that trail next to the bay. Again, all kinds of new birds this time, including a huge Heron, which flew right next to me. It was windy this time, but sunny and the wildlife was great. Oh and no Mountain lions!

So, if someone ever offers to take you on a trail near a marsh or wetland, take them up on it, you will be surprised.

Tony, I know you go down there every once in a while.